Wisdom tooth complications...

It can be mild or very painful. Mild cases may be treatable at home using salt water rinses or Listerine, and gently massaging the gums with your toothbrush. More severe cases should be treated by a dentist with a prescription mouthwash or antibiotic.

Because the swollen tissue is near other molars in your mouth, it is easy to accidently bite the already sore and swollen gum area...ouch!

Gum tissue sweling and then shrinking makes it seem like your wisdom tooth is erupting and then shrinking back into the gum.

Your tooth doesn't shrink back into the gum once it starts erupting but gum swelling comes and goes.

Pericornitis can be treated but will most likely happen again until the wisdom tooth is removed.

Second molar decay is a possibility when wisdom teeth erupt into the back side of your second molars.

Cavities can be filled of course, but whowants a cavity when it can be avoided?

Risks of removing a wisdom tooth

Every Surgery has risk. Here is some of what your oral surgeon or dentist will tell you about wisdom teeth removal...

Dry sockets are the most common wisdom tooth complication. Horror stories of dry sockets that cause severe pain and just the thought of getting one is what keeps many from getting their wisdom teeth removed.

When they are removed at the proper time and by a skilled surgeon or dentist, the risk of dry sockets is decreased and pain after wisdom teeth removal is very manageable.

Following after care directions will greatly decrease the possibility of a dry socket or other pain.

A rare but unfortunate wisdom tooth complication is damage to the lingual nerve.When wisdom teeth roots are fully developed they can grow close to the lingual nerve. Damage to the nerve during surgery is a remote possibility. Having your wisdom teeth removed before the roots grow too close to the nerve greatly decreases the possibility of this occuring.

It is a good idea to have teeth removed when you have a day or two after the surgery to relax and recover.

When done by an oral surgeon, the cost of wisdom teeth removal is higher that a general dentist but a good portion is covered by most dental insurance plans.